Maybe not in the league of the gloats of yore, but in my continuing
sporadic quest to build up a user set of wooden-bodied planes for use in
reenactment of the 1840s I recently snagged a small coffin smoother (7
1/2" long, iron 2 1/8 wide). On the toe I can *just* make out "Ohio . .
. and a number 3 below that. On the upper portion of the iron is stamped
A.C. BARTLETTS' in an arc, with warranted and cast steel in two lines
below. It was in pitiful condition when I found it in a small shop that
specializes in old tools in Lafayette, Oregon. It was complete and
intact, but very dirty and rusty, with a noticeable shallow groove worn
diagonally in the sole. After applying TLC, including jointing the
channeled sole on a finely set Stanley #8 jointer mounted upside down,
derusting the cap iron and blade and getting the latter quite sharp, I
think I now have the wooden smoother of my dreams (short of spending
$339 for the closest Old Street Tool equivalent). I'm not familiar with
A.C. Bartlett combined with Ohio, but a desultory search in the Archives
suggests that it is not related to the Ohio Tool that bought out Auburn
Tool and so forth. Does anyone have any more info on this company,
particularly a possible range of dates of manufacture? TIA, Tom Holloway
Oh, ya, the possible gloat part: $10 'murican money.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tom and GGs,

This is from memory because I'm not near any references, so the details
may not be 100% correct.=A0 A.C. Bartlett was a president or partner of
the hardware distributor, Hibbard, Bartlett and Spencer of Chicago.=A0
Their in house brand of planes (think Keen Kutter and E. C. Simmons) was
A. C. Bartlett's Ohio Planes and were made for them by Sandusky.=A0 The
examples I've seen usually have a Sandusky blade and are quality planes
with excellent fit and finish.=A0 I think they were from 1880 to 1900.

They were available in a full range of styles.=A0 I've seen various
examples of molding planes, plows, and bench planes.


Jim Crammond in Monroe, Mi.



________________________________
 From: Tom Holloway 

snip


=A0=A0=A0 I'm not familiar with A.C. Bartlett combined with Ohio, but a
desultory search in the Archives suggests that it is not related to the
Ohio Tool that bought out Auburn Tool and so forth. Does anyone have any
more info on this company, particularly a possible range of dates of
manufacture? =A0=A0=A0 TIA, =A0=A0=A0 =A0=A0=A0 Tom Holloway Oh, ya, the
possible gloat part: $10 'murican money.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Fri, Apr 20, 2012 at 5:09 AM, Jim Crammond  wrote:

>
> This is from memory because I'm not near any references, so the details
> may not be 100% correct.  A.C. Bartlett was a president or partner of the
> hardware distributor, Hibbard, Bartlett and Spencer of Chicago.  Their in
> house brand of planes (think Keen Kutter and E. C. Simmons) was A. C.
> Bartlett's Ohio Planes and were made for them by Sandusky.  The examples
> I've seen usually have a Sandusky blade and are quality planes with
> excellent fit and finish.  I think they were from 1880 to 1900.
>
>
> Jim (from memory, impressive) pretty much covered what the DAT knows,  A
little refinement (not from memory): 1882 - 1917 are the working dates, and
Bartlett started as a salesman, becoming president in 1904 - 1917.  Was an
unnamed partner from 1872, added to company name in 1882   The names were
Hibbard, Spencer and Bartlett , and the A stood for Adolphus.

Kirk in HMB, trying to get motivated to face the day
------------------------------------------------------------------------

On 4/19/2012 9:55:09 PM Tom Holloway  wrote:

> Maybe not in the league of the gloats of yore, but in my continuing 
>sporadic quest to build up a user set of wooden-bodied planes for use in
>reenactment of the 1840s I recently snagged a small coffin smoother (7 1/2"
>long, iron 2 1/8 wide). On the toe I can *just* make out "Ohio . . . and a
>number 3 below that. On the upper portion of the iron is stamped A.C.
>BARTLETTS' in an arc, with warranted and cast steel in two lines below.

-snip-

> 	I'm not familiar with A.C. Bartlett combined with Ohio, but a 
>desultory search in the Archives suggests that it is not related to the
>Ohio Tool that bought out Auburn Tool and so forth. Does anyone have any more
>info on this company, particularly a possible range of dates of manufacture?

Tom,

According to the EAIA Directory of American Toolmakers, there was some
association between Adolphus C. Bartlett and Ohio Planes by way of Hibbard,
Spencer & Bartlett Co.  It says:

"Planes made by the Sandusky Tool Co. were marked as indicated for sale by
Hibbard, Spencer & Bartlett Co., a hardware firm which Bartlett was
president of 1904 -17.  Bartlett was a salesman for Hibbard, Spencer & Co.
before becoming an unnamed partner in 1872; his name was added in 1882."

Marks:  (1) A.C. BARTLETT'S / OHIO PLANES
            (2) OHIO PLANE CO / A.C. BARTLETT / PRES'T

Cheers,

Jerry
Griffin, GA

------------------------------------------------------------------------

MANY THANKS to Jim, Kirk, and Jerry for the info on Adolphus C.
Bartlett and planes with his name on them! Besides having a lot of
historical context for my small wooden smoother, I now have the idea
that A.C was quite an entrepreneurial fellow. You guys is da best! Tom
Holloway--------------------------------------------------------------
----------

Quoting Tom Holloway :

> Maybe not in the league of the gloats of yore, but in my continuing >
> sporadic quest to build up a user set of wooden-bodied planes for >
> use in reenactment of the 1840s I recently snagged a small coffin >
> smoother (7 1/2" long, iron 2 1/8 wide). On the toe I can *just* >
> make out "Ohio . . . and a number 3 below that. On the upper portion
> > of the iron is stamped A.C. BARTLETTS' in an arc, with warranted >
> and cast steel in two lines below. It was in pitiful condition when >
> I found it in a small shop that specializes in old tools in >
> Lafayette, Oregon.
> =09It was complete and intact, but very dirty and rusty, with a >
> =noticeable shallow groove worn diagonally in the sole. After >
> =applying TLC, including jointing the channeled sole on a finely set >
> =Stanley #8 jointer mounted upside down, derusting the cap iron and >
> =blade and getting the latter quite sharp, I think I now have the >
> =wooden smoother of my dreams (short of spending $339 for the closest
> => Old Street Tool equivalent). 09I'm not familiar with A.C. Bartlett
> =combined with Ohio, but a > desultory search in the Archives suggests
> =that it is not related to > the Ohio Tool that bought out Auburn Tool
> =and so forth. Does anyone > have any more info on this company,
> =particularly a possible range of > dates of manufacture? 09TIA,
> =09=09Tom Holloway
> Oh, ya, the possible gloat part: $10 'murican money.
>
Hibbard, Spencer and Bartlett 1899 compact catalogue no 6 The number 3
with polished lignum vitae start $0.90c - but you probably has to buy
the entire case of 36 to get that price

Neil

------------------------------------------------------------------------